FROM NCBWA RELEASE
DALLAS – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released the Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 13, today. Missouri senior outfielder Jacob Priday was named National Hitter of the Week, while San Diego State’s sophomore right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Priday set a Big 12 single-game record with four home runs in No. 8 Missouri’s 31-12 victory over 10th-ranked Texas on Friday. He finished the three-game series against UT with a .583 batting average (7-for-12), 11 RBI and four homers. Priday also recorded a 1.667 slugging percentage and a double to lead the Tigers to two wins in the series.
In the opener, the Sikeston, Mo., native went 5-for-5 while compiling nine RBI and six runs scored. His four home run performance is tied for the third-most in NCAA history. Priday also moved within one of the Mizzou career home run record with 44, and is two shy of the RBI mark with 220 after this weekend’s action. On Saturday, he was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and a pair of RBI. Earlier in the week, Priday was 1-for-3 including a three-run home run against Missouri State on Wednesday.
Strasburg threw a one-hit, complete-game shutout in San Diego State’s 1-0 win over Utah last Friday, setting a new Aztec and Mountain West Conference record with 23 strikeouts. The San Diego, Calif., native struck out the side in the first inning, as well as the fifth through eighth innings. A total of 16 of the final 17 outs he recorded came via the strikeout. The 23 K’s ties for the third-most ever in a Division I game nationally and are the most in a game since the 1981 season. Strasburg did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and permitted only three Ute base runners with none advancing past second base. The Utes, who came into the contest batting .322, hit just .038 on the night.
With this week’s honor, Strasburg automatically is named to the watch list for Roger Clemens Award, given to the national collegiate pitcher of the year, sponsored by the Greater Houston Baseball Organization.
Fort Worth-based Pro-Line Athletic supplies the official cap to more than 100 Division I college teams and official uniforms and team wear to six Division 1 college teams. This is the fourth year Pro-Line has sponsored the NCBWA’s Players of the Week. The sponsorship provides for plaques to be awarded to each of the weekly winners and other promotional consideration. For more information about Pro-Line, visit their Web site at: www.prolineathletic.com.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.
2008 WINNERS:
Pro-Line Athletic Hitter of the Week – Feb. 25 – Dustin Ackley, North Carolina; March 4 – Sawyer Carroll, Kentucky; March 11 – Aaron Murphree, Arkansas; March 18 – Tyler Kuhn, West Virginia; March 25 – Mike McKenna, Florida Atlantic; April 1 – Alan Ahmady, Fresno State; April 8 – Ryan Pond, NC State; April 15 – Jacob Priday, Missouri
Pro-Line Athletic Pitcher of the Week – Feb. 25 – Lance Lynn, Ole Miss; March 4 – Joey Seal, Norfolk State, Barry Bowden, Southern Miss; March 11 – David Coulon, Arizona; March 18 – Ricky Bowen, Mississippi State; March 25 – Aaron Crow, Missouri; April 1 – Branond McClurg, Lipscomb, Josh Romanski, San Diego; April 8 – Nick Haughian, Washington; April 15 – Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State
